Following is the explanation of the Seal of the Basilica of Saint Mary.
Motto: The motto Omnes Cum Petro ad
Jesum per Mariam (All with Peter to Jesus through Mary) bespeaks the loyalty of
the faithful to the Holy See and the Magisterial Teaching of the Church. It professes reliance to Our Lady as the way
to Her Divine Son. Presented on a white banner bordered in red, it represents
the sacrifices of the parish faithful across the 223 years of parish life.
Umbrellino: Surmounting the shield, the umbrellino is an umbrella of red and gold, which are the traditional papal
colors. It is commonly opened whenever a pope visits a basilica. It represents
a unique relationship between the basilica and the Holy Father in Rome.
Cross-Keys: The keys refer to the promise of Christ to
Peter, “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed
in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19). The gold key on the left alludes to the church’s
power in the kingdom of heaven. The silver key on the right indicates the
spiritual authority of the papacy on earth. The mechanisms are turned up
toward the heavens and the grips turned down into the hands of the pope. The
presence of the keys symbolizes the continuous connection of the basilica to
the Holy See.
Design of the Shield: The central element of the seal is a shield
divided into four distinct sections, which are symbolic of key aspects of the
parish’s history. The colors of the
shield are blue and white and symbolize the mantle of piety —blue, and purity— white, of the Mother of God. Similar colors
appear in the flag of the commonwealth of Virginia and in the seal of the
Diocese of Arlington.
Upper Right: The monogram represents “Ave Maria” (Latin
for “Hail Mary”) and symbols her patronage of the parish. This monogram pays tribute
to the prayer of the faithful, echoing the “Hail Mary” prayed across the span
of the two millennia in the church.
Bottom Right: The English frigate (circa 1650) symbolizes
the City of Alexandria, the sailing vessel by which Catholics sailed to the New
World, and the church sailing over the seas of time with Peter at the helm. The
Ark and The Dove were the two famous ships, chartered by Cecil Calvert to
transport 140 colonists to the shores of Maryland. Similar ships brought the Jesuit founders of the
parish, as well as many Irish and Scottish merchants, to the port City of
Alexandria.
Upper Left: The stars on a blue field
are taken from the seal of the Diocese of Arlington. The 10 smaller stars
recall the historical significance of the commonwealth of Virginia as the 10th
state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The star in the center represents the
Blessed Virgin Mary’s patronage over the Diocese and the basilica. In a more profound
way, this signifies her queenship over heaven and earth.
Bottom Left: The monogram “IHS” has been used
historically to symbolize the Holy Name of Jesus Christ. Taken from Greek, it is an abbreviation of
the name IHS??S — Jesus.
Central to the seal of the Jesuit order, it symbolizes their founding of the
parish in 1795. It pays tribute to the founding pastors who came from the
Society of Jesus.
